Shirt cuff tips and shirt cuff tip protectors

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a device for protecting the tip of a French cuff which attaches to the longitudinal and circumferential edges. It also includes a shirt with French cuffs for accepting a cuff tip.

COPYRIGHT NOTICE

A portion of the disclosure of this patent contains material that is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent files or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to shirt cuff protectors. In particular, the present invention relates to shirt cuff tips and protectors for protecting the shirt cuff tips.

2. Description of Related Art

The long sleeve dress shirt is mainly fitted with one of two types of cuffs around the wrist that open the sleeve wide enough to insert the hand during the process of putting a dress shirt on. Each has its own particular type of closing mechanism. The more common Barrel cuff is found on dress shirts wherein the edges are wrapped over one another and held closed on one or more buttons. This folded over approach helps protect the tips of the cuffs from damage by virtue of the folded over design. It is considered the less formal version of the shirt cuff.

The French cuffs are luxury high end and formal shirt cuffs that have a folded over part with the edges being mated and sticking out perpendicular to the cuff. They are usually held shut by a stud, knot or cufflink through a preexisting hole in the cuff rather than a button and a hole in one side of the cuff. Since the edges stick out around the wrist, they are noticeably thicker around the wrist. The cuff tip comprising the wrist's circumferential edge meeting the longitudinal edge is particularly susceptible to damage. Additionally it is possible that the cuff tip may spread or may fit looser than it should over time.

There has not really been any attempt at preventing such damage and the normal experience of users of French cuffs is that the tip will get damaged. One attempt in U.S. Pat. No. 2,823,386 to Loaiza was to provide a sheet of folded plastic that was only positioned along the longitudinal edge of the cuff and secured with the cuff link. However, in over 50 years, the device appears not to have been utilized primarily because the device is made of flexible plastic and it does very little to protect the longitudinal edge and nothing to protect the circumferential edge. Further, since the device does not look high end, it appears inappropriate as a device to use with a high end shirt. To date, there is still a need to provide a device that protects the French cuff tip yet is appropriate to wear with a formal dress shirt.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is the discovery that a device which covers the cuff tip, that is the top, bottom, and both the circumferential and longitudinal edges helps prevent soiling of the tip, damage of the tip, separating of the cuff tip, and presents a decorative luxury appearance.

Accordingly, in one embodiment the invention is a device for protecting the cuff tip of a shirt French cuff, the cuff tip having a top, bottom, circumferential edge and an longitudinal edge comprising:

-   -   a) a rigid material of at least one piece which surrounds a         portion of the top, bottom, circumferential edge and an         longitudinal edge of the cuff, and     -   b) an attachment mechanism for securely attaching the device to         the cuff tip.

In another embodiment of the present invention there is a shirt having French cuffs and cuff tips for receiving a studded cuff tip protector, the shirt comprising a hole from a top of the cuff to a bottom of the cuff separate from a cuff link hole adapted to receive the stud of the cuff tip protector.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the device on a French cuff.

FIG. 2 is an embodiment of a two piece version of the device.

FIG. 3 is a top view of the device on a French cuff.

FIG. 4 is examples of a variety of shapes of the present device.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the present device with post and post-lock attachment means.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of post and post lock from the rear.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a shirt cuff with a cuff tip post hole.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

While this invention is susceptible to embodiment in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail specific embodiments, with the understanding that the present disclosure of such embodiments is to be considered as an example of the principles and not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiments shown and described. In the description below, like reference numerals are used to describe the same, similar or corresponding parts in the several views of the drawings. This detailed description defines the meaning of the terms used herein and specifically describes embodiments in order for those skilled in the art to practice the invention.

DEFINITIONS

The terms “about” and “essentially” mean ±10 percent.

The terms “a” or “an”, as used herein, are defined as one or as more than one. The term “plurality”, as used herein, is defined as two or as more than two. The term “another”, as used herein, is defined as at least a second or more. The terms “including” and/or “having”, as used herein, are defined as comprising (i.e., open language). The term “coupled”, as used herein, is defined as connected, although not necessarily directly, and not necessarily mechanically.

The term “comprising” is not intended to limit inventions to only claiming the present invention with such comprising language. Any invention using the term comprising could be separated into one or more claims using “consisting” or “consisting of” claim language and is so intended.

Reference throughout this document to “one embodiment”, “certain embodiments”, and “an embodiment” or similar terms means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, the appearances of such phrases or in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments without limitation.

The term “or” as used herein is to be interpreted as an inclusive or meaning any one or any combination. Therefore, “A, B or C” means any of the following: “A; B; C; A and B; A and C; B and C; A, B and C”. An exception to this definition will occur only when a combination of elements, functions, steps or acts are in some way inherently mutually exclusive.

The drawings featured in the figures are for the purpose of illustrating certain convenient embodiments of the present invention, and are not to be considered as limitation thereto. Term “means” preceding a present participle of an operation indicates a desired function for which there is one or more embodiments, i.e., one or more methods, devices, or apparatuses for achieving the desired function and that one skilled in the art could select from these or their equivalent in view of the disclosure herein and use of the term “means” is not intended to be limiting.

As used herein a “French cuff tip” is the edge of the French cuff formed by the intersection of the circumferential edge of the cuff and the longitudinal edge of the cuff. That intersection forms essentially a right angle and for purposes of this invention is a distance of at least about half an inch in each of the mentioned directions. In other embodiments it is ¾ inch, or one inch, but not as far as a cuff link hole in the longitudinal direction, i.e. terminates short of the cuff link hole on the longitudinal edge. In one embodiment it is no more than half the distance in the longitudinal direction. It is part of the shirt French cuff that sticks out the most and is most likely to be damaged during shirt wear. One viewing the figures herein can ascertain the cuff tip within the skill of the art.

In addition to the two edges mentioned above, the tip also has a top and a bottom side. In general, the top is the same side of the cuff as the decorative portion of a cuff link on a French cuff shirt is placed, while the bottom side is the same side as the locking portion of a cuff link on a French cuff having a cuff link.

As use herein “protecting” refers to covering the cuff tip such that the cuff tip is prevented from being soiled or crumpled or otherwise damaged during wearing of a shirt with French cuffs.

As used herein the term “rigid material” refers to a material that's essentially non-flexible. This would be similar to a metal cuff link in that it is not designed to flex. Therefore, the rigid material could be a metal such as stainless, brass, precious metals used in jewelry (such as cufflinks), or materials of similar stiffness. Specifically, excluded are flexible sheet plastics and similarly flexible materials. In one embodiment, the rigid material is a jewelry grade material or coated material (e.g. gold, silver or platinum) such that the device of the present invention for protecting a cuff tip would be considered jewelry as well as having a functional purpose of protecting the cuff tip.

The device of the present invention is one, two or more pieces which when installed on the shirt cuff tip surrounds a portion of the top, bottom, circumferential edge, and longitudinal edge of the cuff. Since it only needs to cover a small portion of the edges the amount of top and bottom of the cuff is dictated by the length along those two edges, as well as any decorative design included in the device. One skilled in the art will understand the size requirements from the description and figures provided herein. The device surrounds the four dimensions, thus protecting the device and then must be secured to the shirt.

In the case of a post pushed through the shirt cuff tip (e.g. like a cuff link) the shirt will of necessity need a premade hole through the four layers of material designed to align to receive the post through those layers and attach a post lock on the bottom side. Accordingly, one embodiment of the present invention is a shirt having French cuffs, the cuffs adapted to receive a post or stud on a cuff tip protector with a cuff tip protector hole (separate from the cuff link hole).

As used herein an “attachment mechanism” refers to a locking device on the cuff tip protector such that it will not fall off the shirt during use. Any suitable means can be utilized. For example, the cuff can be a clip, springs, post and springs (as shown in the figures), post through a hole with a post locking mechanism on the bottom side of the cuff, and the like. Attachment means will be discoverable without undue work in view of the disclosures in the present invention.

Now referring to the drawings, FIG. 1 is an example in perspective view of a cuff tip protector of the present invention on a French cuffed shirt. In FIG. 1 French cuff 1 is shown with cufflink decorative side 2 on cuff top 3. The cuff also has a bottom side 4 as well as a circumferential edge 5 and a longitudinal edge 6. The cuff tip protector 7 of the present invention is shown covering the top 3, bottom 4, and two edges 5 and 6. The cuff tip is the area generally underneath cuff tip protector 7.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a two-piece cuff tip protector: FIGS. 2 a, 2 b and 2 c. In this embodiment top piece 22 is mated with bottom piece 23. The top piece 22 is fitted with spring loaded posts 24 and the bottom piece 23 is fitted with matching holes 25 positioned for accepting the posts when the two pieces are properly aligned on the cuff tip. Also shown are gripping teeth 26 lining the edge facing the cuff to further aid in holding the cuff tip protector on the shirt French cuff.

FIG. 3 is a top perspective of cuff tip protector 31 on cuff 32 showing a perspective to cufflink 33. FIG. 4 depicts various versions of the cuff tip protector: FIGS. 4 a, 4 b, 4 c, 4 d, and 4 e. The main difference is the position and shape of edge 41 which shows that the device can have function with some degree of esthetics.

FIG. 5 is an embodiment wherein a cuff protector top piece 51 is fitted with a stud 52. The stud lock 53 is shown separate and the only part of the cuff tip protector on the bottom surface is the stud and stud lock. In other embodiments, there is a surface like other devices shown in other embodiments.

In FIG. 6 the cuff tip protector 51 has the stud 52 placed through the cuff tip hole 61 in cuff 62 of shirt 63 and secured on the bottom with stud lock 53.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a French cuff shirt having stud hole 77.

Those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains may make modifications resulting in other embodiments employing principles of the present invention without departing from its spirit or characteristics, particularly upon considering the foregoing teachings. Accordingly, the described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative, and not restrictive, and the scope of the present invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description or drawings. Consequently, while the present invention has been described with reference to particular embodiments, modifications of structure, sequence, materials and the like apparent to those skilled in the art still fall within the scope of the invention as claimed by the applicant. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A device for protecting the cuff tip of a shirt French cuff , the cuff tip having a top, bottom, circumferential edge and an longitudinal edge the French cuff having a cuff link positioned along the longitudinal edge, the device being separate from the cuff link comprising: a) a rigid material of at least one piece which surrounds a portion of the top, bottom, circumferential edge and an longitudinal edge of the cuff, the portion of the material positioned surrounding the longitudinal edge positioned between the circumferential edge and the cufflink; and b) an attachment mechanism for securely attaching the device to the cuff tip.
 2. The device according to claim 1 wherein the device is made of a rigid metal.
 3. The device according to claim 1 wherein the attachment mechanism is one or more springs.
 4. The device according to claim 1 wherein the attachment mechanism is one or more springs and a post.
 5. The device according to claim 1 wherein the attachment mechanism is a clip.
 6. The device according to claim 1 wherein the attachment mechanism is a post which penetrates the cuff from the top to the bottom of the cuff.
 7. (canceled)
 8. The device according to claim 5 where in the attachment mechanism is a post secured by a post-lock.
 9. The device according to claim 1 wherein the device is two pieces having a top piece and a bottom piece.
 10. The device according to claim 9 wherein the attachment device is a spring loaded post which passes through a hole in one of the pieces and through a hole in the other piece to secure the two pieces together.
 11. The device according to claim 1 wherein the device has a plurality of gripping teeth facing the French cuff.
 12. A shirt having French cuffs, a cuff link hole and cuff tips for receiving a studded cuff tip protector, the shirt further comprising a cuff tip hole in the cuff positioned from a top of the cuff to a bottom of the cuff separate from the cuff link hole adapted to receive the stud of the cuff tip protector. 